I'm having feelings.

[Deleted]

ugh. Yeah-its way more than a set of walls for you. Its the home to your childhood memories, etc.

((hugs))

[Deleted]

(((hugs)))

[nomad100]

((hugs))

I worry about this too since my parents are in their mid 70s and it is a big house with a big yard for 2 people. My parents have lived in their house since I was 4 and it is the only home I remember.

[hereigo]

oh man, I'm sorry.

[Deleted]

((hugs))

[sequins]

My parents just upped and moved out of our home last month because my dad got a transfer. It's the house I met H in and got married in and just such a big part of my life. I haz the sads. They've listed it for sale now. So sad Hugs.

[my4girls]

ugh my mom keeps saying she wants to sell their house too, it makes me so sad. I am sorry

[zaneyzoo]

I'm sorry. My parents did this a couple years ago. I miss the house like crazy, but it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I'm guessing most of it though, is that we live in the same town and so my home is now my home. I think I'd feel differently if I "came back" home for visits.

But it is hard. Even as an adult

[Daria Morgandorffer]

I'm going through the exact same thing right now. My Dad is selling the house I lived in my entire childhood to move in with his fiance, and I'm heartbroken that this will be the last Christmas there. I hate it.

[beefcheeks]

Admittedly, I can't relate ("Corporate America" brat; we're very similar to the army brat) so feel free to ignore me. :-) But I do understand that this would be really hard, so for that, I'm really sorry.

What about trying to focus on other things you can do, like writing a nice note to the next family, or leaving something for them - like a small gift or something? When we did our final walk through with the previous owners of our house, the woman took my son around the house and told him all the fun things that her daughter did there - where she loved to play, where her secret hiding spot was, which bedroom was hers, etc. She teared up a bit and so did I. I'm sure she was thinking of all those memories and I was thinking of all those that lay ahead of me and my family. Maybe a note of gift that would convey this sentiment would help you feel better?  Like you're giving a very special gift to someone, rather than losing something, you know?

One last thing - what about having a drawing or painting done of the home? My sister has something very similar to this and it's really nice.

[sparkythelawyer]

I get it. I never really lived in my parents last house (they bought it when I was in college) but I was sad when it sold. It was the last place in this world that was so much MY MOM. Her style, her decor, her touches. She was everywhere in that place, and it became one more piece of her that was gone.

Sorry they are selling your "home."

[daisybuchannan]

I feel ya! My parents sold their house in my hometown. They rent walking distance to the beach in the same town, so it's cool, but really weird not driving "home" when I visit.

[aprilsails]

My Dad sold the house he built when I was born about 10 years ago.

I love driving by and looking at all the strange things the new owners have done (Greek urn garden by the front door - anyone?)

I miss it a lot but it wasn't too hard and he and my Stepmom have a beautiful home together that fit all their kids comfortably. That wouldn't have been possible at the old house.

I think MIL is holding onto their current house for longer so that DH and I can buy it in 5 - 7 years. I'm scared. It's HUGE. She's made comments to that effect and that she's holding off FIL who wants to downsize now.

[KKD]

I get it. I already know I will have a really hard time when my parents eventually sell their house. They built it almost 30 years ago, so it's only ever been ours. And even though they've renovated it since I've lived there, it still feels like home to me. I don't think any other place they'd move would feel that way again. It's too big for them, but I think they are still holding onto it because it gives my out-of-town sister and brother and his family a place to stay. And, you know, all the memories. It will be hard for all of us to say goodbye.

So, yeah, I understand, and I'm sorry the end is near for you. I hope you're able to enjoy your Christmas there together!

[DaisyCakes]

I'm sorry kiz. I dread the day my parents decide to sell, I know it's just a matter of time. I too have a hamster named cinnamon buried in their backyard.

[moolarkey]

My parents sold our house when I was in college and moved 4 miles away - at least they moved my stuff and gave me the address of the new place!

When my parents died we sold the house. The new owners really took care of it for about 2 years and then she left him. He stopped making payments, lost it to the bank but before he turned it over to the bank he stripped EVERYTHING out of it. Plumbing, all cabinets, all appliances, furnace, AC, windows, etc.

I didn't like to drive up their road and actually had only done it 1 time since we sold it and that was to get my H to stop bugging me about getting over it.

So last spring DD and I went to the cemetery to put hang a wreath at my parents graves. She asked if we could drive by their house. I didn't want to but said yes. We pulled up in front of it and stunned is not even the word. My first glance at the house I thought there had been a fire but then I focused in and realized it hadn't burnt. He'd stripped everything of ANY value out of and off the house. It is an empty shell. My parents loved that house, it was what they'd always wanted and it was destroyed. I have no need to ever take that road again, it's doesn't go anywhere I need to go but the vision I have in my head is now a stripped out shell and it hurts.

[EmilieMadison]

I"m sorry Kiz  
I promise that if they move, I'll drive-by stalk your parents house with you when you feel nostalgic. 

[speckledfrog]

I was sad when my dad sold our childhood home a couple years ago. When we go visit my ILs (just a few miles from my old house) I always make MH drive past it.

[readyin07]

Bawling at this whole thread '

[KKD]

Oh, moolarkey, I'm so sorry. That would break my heart. You too, @cse1960.

[textbookcase]

Aw, I'm sorry

It's tough. My parents are still in the house that they've lived in since I was 12. A few years ago they were looking into moving and I was also having all kinds of feelings. They ended up staying for the time being, but I know they won't be there forever and it makes me sad.

Hugs.

[emoflamingo]

My dad drove through the neighborhood I grew up and and sent me a picture of the garage he built in our back yard - it was gigantic. The garage door has fallen apart so there's a huge hole in the middle where some of the panels have fallen off. I know it was hard for him to see because it was hard for me to see.

[EmilieMadison]

Dec 18, 2014 11:10:53 GMT -5 @kizmet said:

Is anyone in the Twin Cities house hunting? Maybe a MLer can buy my parent's house and we can keep it in the "family." :-)

Eta: We would buy it if they could offer it at 50% off. :-) They are extremely generous people.....but not THAT generous. :-)

GTG house!! 

[FrozenSunshine]

I'm sorry. We just put my grandfathers house on the market. I cried like a baby the last time I walked through there. They moved into that house when my mom was a teenager so not only did her and her siblings grow up there but all of us grandkids too.

[meganew]

I'm sorry, that would make me really sad, too. : (

[meganew]

Actually, my grandmother might be listing her place and moving in with us, so I should start preparing myself for that now. We've had that house since I was 10/11- I drew all over my walls in high school and all my friends signed their names (including my BFF who died shortly after graduation), my H has drawn an updated self portrait every few years on my ceiling for the past 12 years, and my grandfather passed away in our living room.

Yeah. Lets all drink wine and cry.

[EmilieMadison]

My Grammy passed away in 2006. I lived in her house with her for a few years when I was in college. I loved that house and DH and I considered buying it after she was gone. About 2 years ago my sister called me crying. Apparently the house is GONE. The people who bought it made a deal with the city to sell it to be demolished because there was a water flow issue from the street to the yard or something. It's just an empty lot now. It's hard.
Once in a while when I"m running errands I'll have a moment where I think "Oh, I should swing by to see Grammy!" and then I remember that she's gone and so is the house. It's like a punch in the gut every time.

[kayakjenn]

Dec 18, 2014 13:25:51 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Edit, I was just thinking. There is no house in the world anywhere, anymore, where my mother used to live. All those houses are torn down.  

This just made me seriously cry

I also have the same reaction about pets being buried at my parent's house. My favorite cat, who died while I was living back home as an adult, is buried there with a gravestone that reads "loved beyond belief." Just the thought that some day I won't be able to go back and visit him is heart breaking (and my parents are in their 70s so this will happen within 10 years.)

[blueshirt2003]

I am having the same emotions as you. I lived in the house for 25 years and my parents are talking of selling it. It's really the property itself that holds my memories. My pets are buried there. My children have also buried the granddogs with me. It's 4 acres and I know every inch of the land from living outdoors as a kid. It's my HOME. It is very sad to consider that one day it won't be a part of our family one day. (

[jigsy]

I think we might end up having to move my mom somewhere once my Dad passes. They have lived in that house for 35 years. It will be weird, but it isn't a good layout for my mom, and why would she need a huge house just for her.

I don't look forward to that day...35 years of living to clean out of that house...plus my mom is a mini-hoarder, so there is that to look forward to. :/